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Chasetown lose from the spot
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Boldmere St Michaels 0
Chasetown 0
After extra time, 90 mins 0-0
Boldmere win 4-3 on penalties
Walsall Senior Cup Semi-Final
Mikes' goalkeeper Daniel Cobb was the Boldmere hero with
two penalty saves as the Midland Alliance side reached
back to back Walsall Senior Cup Finals, writes Paul Mullins.
The home side started more brightly and Kirk Smith, James
Quiggin (twice) and Tim Gould all had early chances at
Chase keeper Lee Evans’ goal, whilst Chase leading
goalscorer Karl Edwards struck the side netting in the
opening 15 minutes.
Neither keeper were really tested however, with the closest
chances being no more than half ones. Craig Holland was
inches wide with a shot on the turn midway through the
half, with the best first half opportunity coming to Chris
Slater three minutes before the interval. Paul Spacey’s
free-kick was only parried by Cobb and Slater, just four
yards out, stretched out a left foot but could only divert
the ball over the crossbar.
A flash of Lee Bullimore brilliance 11 minutes into the
second half livened up a crowd dominated by visiting supporters
it appeared. Bullimore teed himself up on the edge of
the area and let rip with a right foot shot which Cobb
dived full length to his left to hold onto, airborne as
he held on.
Chasetown looked to use their most creative players to
try and unlock a resolute Boldmere defence superbly marshalled
by David Davies and Daniel Parker and, 13 minutes from
full-time, Ben Steane supplied John Branch who crossed
from the right, Bullimore laid the ball into Steane’s
path but the final shot was deflected wide.
In the final minute of normal time, Slater burst forward
from the Chase midfield and almost repeated the goal he
scored last Tuesday. He played a neat one-two with Karl
Edwards and this time tried to slip the ball back into
Edwards’ path only for Davies to stick out a foot
and clear the danger.
Extra-time was perhaps always inevitable and, after an
early injury to a Boldmere player who was stretchered
off, only a disallowed ‘goal’ for the hosts
in first-half injury time from Quiggin livened up a crowd
that seemed resigned to penalty kicks.
The Scholars were livelier in the second period of extra-time
and Lee Parsons was only just high of the target, from
25 yards, four minutes into the final 15 minute period.
With 6 minutes remaining, Boldmere must’ve felt
it was definitely going to be their night. Chase Sub Paul
McMahon superbly cut in from the Chasetown right and laid
the ball across the 6-yard box and a despairing late challenge
from Cobb and a defender deprived John Branch of what
seemed like a tap-in at the far post.
Spacey himself had an obvious ‘goal’ disallowed
for offside, before the game almost ended in controversy
in the 1st minute of stoppage time. It started with Chase
wingback John Branch attacking the ball and clashing heads
with Boldmere’s Neil Finan. Referee Kuzmanovic saw
fit to carry on the play, and, despite, the Boldmere Physio
running onto the field to treat a head injury, Chasetown
continued – with the Referee’s approval –
and Steane’s shot was well parried by Cobb and cleared
for a throw-in before the Ref even blew for the injury!
Had Cobb conceded a goal, it would surely have had to
stand but Boldmere would have been incensed!
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The full-time whistle signalled the onset of penalty kicks.
McMahon gave Chasetown the lead, despite a hand to it
from Cobb, before Neil Watkins made it 1-1. Edwards restored
the visitors’ advantage while Gould levelled at
2-2, with Evans getting a strong touch on the ball but
again was beaten for power.
Chase skipper Craig Harris saw his kick saved by Cobb,
with Smith giving Boldmere the advantage at 3-2, again
with a hand to the ball from Evans.
Steane kept Chasetown in the game at 3-3, and they remained
on level terms when Evans saved to his left to keep out
Mykel Beckley.
Cobb made his second save to keep out John Branch, with
Finan driving home the winning kick to send Boldmere to
Bescot on May 8th.
Chasetown:
Evans, Holland (Steane, 75 mins), M Branch (J Branch,
62 mins), Slater, Thomas, Williams, Harris, Parsons, Bullimore
(McMahon, 94 mins), Edwards, Spacey
Subs: Beckett, Hughes (not used)
Attendance: 130
(Walsall Senior
Cup)
Boldmere St. Michaels
0 Chasetown Football Club 0.
(The `Mikes` win on penalties after extra time)
The `Mikes` who are the current
holders of this impressive trophy, finally edged past
their Southern League neighbours in this scintillating
semi-final in front of a good sized crowd at Church Road
(Tuesday evening) to progress into the Walsall Senior
Cup final for only the third time in their history.
0-0 on 90 minutes, the game then
went into extra time when both teams had a goal disallowed
for an offside decision.
The cup-tie then went into penalty
kicks and Boldmere`s Neil Finan was the hero of the match
as he struck home the winning spot kick to send the `Mikes`
team into ecstasy as they look forward to finishing off
their season with a return to Bescot stadium, the home
of Walsall Football Club.
The date of the final and the other
finalist to be confirmed |
